Introduction

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

A.A. Milne starts his story collection, Winnie-the-Pooh, off with a dedication reading:

Hand in hand we come

      Christopher Robin and I

To lay this book in your lap.

          Say you're surprised?

          Say you like it?

          Say it's just what you wanted?

               Because it's yours - 

               Because we love you.

So here I am - not the wordsmith A.A. Milne or even the delightful, knowledgeable Christopher Robin - but the Winnie-the-Pooh of this blog. I present my lines to you, nonetheless, and I hope of all hopes that you like them.

Why the Winnie-the-Pooh theme? How old are you anyways? Good questions. I was at my childhood home last Christmas, because, at least in years, I am considered an adult now, and I found a very old hardback copy of Winnie-the-Pooh hiding on a bookshelf. While I have always loved Winnie-the-Pooh, it had been quite some time since I had sat down and read the stories. I was delighted again by the rambling adventures of a naive but inquisitive "bear of little brain." Pooh constantly investigates the world around him. He searches out the source of honey, he hunts down mysterious Woozles and Heffalumps, and even tries to find the North Pole. Despite his best efforts, his adventures are usually undermined by his own actions, often his desire for food, which I can understand. Pooh, however, never gets upset about his own shortcomings, often acknowledging his lack of brains, and continues along his merry way. He joyfully travels about the Hundred Acre Wood singing songs, making up poems, and meeting up with his ragtag group of friends. 

Side note: If you've never read the Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff, I highly recommend you check out his description of Winnie-the-Pooh as the exemplary Western Taoist who is in tune with nature and just goes with the flow of life.

Well that sounds wonderful, but what does it have to do with this blog? As you can see, just like Pooh, I get a little off track sometimes. While reading, I started to identify with the little bear. Like him, my head is often in the clouds, I get excited by ridiculous things, I love poetry, I often lack common sense, and I tend to take life in stride without getting too stressed. 

Therefore, in the manner of A.A. Milne, I plan to share my adventures of the mind with you. These adventures will mainly consist of mutterings about stories of all kinds, both written and filmed; I'm an English teacher after all. However, don't be surprised if I meander off topic. Sometimes when you plan to go to Piglet's house, you end up at the bee tree. 

Say it's just what you wanted?